Verkeerder Kill Falls, Cascading waterfall in Ulster County, United States
Verkeerder Kill Falls is a waterfall in Sam's Point Preserve with a drop of about 187 feet flowing from the Shawangunk Ridge. The water creates a white curtain against dark rock walls and is surrounded by a distinctive forest of dwarf pine trees.
Settlers in this region gave the waterfall a name from their own language in the early years of the 18th century. Documents from that period show that the area was already known as an important location.
The name comes from Dutch settlers who lived in this region centuries ago. Today the waterfall is part of a hiking network that connects visitors through the distinctive landscape of the Shawangunk Mountains.
The main way to reach the waterfall is through a hiking trail of about 3 miles in Sam's Point Preserve. Visitors should bring good shoes and plenty of water, as there is little shade along the route.
The waterfall forms where two small streams come together and flows through a rare ecosystem with special dwarf pine trees. This ecosystem is not widespread in North America and makes the place botanically valuable.
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